SmithLab11

1) A ballistic pendulum is a collision in which conservation of energy can be measured.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/balpen.html

2) It's used to measure the velocity of a bullet.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/balpen.html

3) Measurements needed are: mass of pendulum, mass of bullet, height it swings upwards
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/balpen.html

4) conservation of energy, kinetic energy, potential energy


Here is an example of how it works.


Here is a second example with a different mass and bullet.


Here is a third examlpe of a ballistic pendulum in action.